“I took the dog for a walk yesterday afternoon,” Stan commented, “and I saw something to reflect on about my faith walk.”
“Two walks,” I commented. “One with the dog and one with God!”
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “If I’m open to seeing, every step I take will show me something about God and what He has for me.”
“What’d you see yesterday on your walk?”
“A neighbor boy playing with a yoyo that Santa had put in his Christmas stocking,” Stan replied.
“What did the boy’s yoyo show you?” I asked.
“Two separate things,” Stan replied. “First, my faith walk is not to be like a yoyo in that all I do is go up and down without making any progress in my spiritual maturity.”
“Don’t just go up and down in your faith,” I said, “but break loose of the strings that are limiting you; is that the point?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Stan replied. “That’s the first point. The second one has to do with how some people use the term ‘yoyo’ to mean ‘you’re on your own’, and there’s a real danger in being that kind of yoyo.”
“What kind of danger are you talking about?” I asked.
“Rather than being on my own and relying on what I think I should be doing,” Stan replied, “I am to seek, find, and follow God’s will for me.”
“Rather than being on your own,” I commented, “going where you think best, doing what you think best, be surrendered to God, is that it? Sounds kind of like the three-steps of discipleship that Jesus talked about.”
“You’ve got that right, my friend,” Stan replied. “Rather than being on my own, I am to deny wanting to be on my own. Rather than being on my own by doing what I want to do, I am to take up what God has for me to take up in being His. Those are the first two steps.”
“And the third step,” I added, “is to follow,”
“Wherever, however, and whenever,” Stan added, “which is always!”
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Bible verses to consider:
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for providing the way to you through Jesus so we are not on our own, trying to make our way into your eternal presence by our own efforts. You provided the way into your eternal presence for all who believe and you provide the way to know you and Jesus so we are not on our own on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I try to do on my own what only you can do. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so I am the disciple you intend by denying self, taking up what you have for me to take up, and following you wherever, however, and whenever you want, which is always. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life with Him in eternity so you are not on your own, trying to earn what He has available for free? If no, why? What’s standing in the way? If you do have the assurance of spending eternity in God’s presence when it’s time, how are you doing with living the life He has for you on this side of eternity? Are you trying to live it on your own? If so, why? If you sense the need for some changes in how you are living your life here, how are those changes going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
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S. Tory Teller’s book (Foreword by Josh McDowell), Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going is available at amazon.com and through the publisher at s-toryteller.com
Waiting for the Train 